surviving a predator attack

[ahiru]

I hate to make my appearance on this forum by introducing a sad situation but here goes. Last Saturday night, March 16, a predator, probably a fox, dug a hole under my shed, killed my duck and injured my drake. The drake's head and body seem fine but one leg seems injured. I took him to a vet who said the leg is not broken or badly injured in any way. He should be fine. However, this is the third day since the attack and he remains completely listless, barely able to drag himself on the ground, not eating or drinking (but yesterday I saw him drink a little). He was always a spirited bird, attacking me constantly, and he seems to have lost the will to live. I plan to introduce new ducklings in a couple of days. My question is, do you think he can recover? Is he still in shock from the attack? Or should I assume he has some internal injury (in which case putting him down seems like the best option)? Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[centrarchid]

Welcome to BYC. The vet with hands can make the best call. Odds are if fox, the duck received multiple bites to the back and possibly neck. Nerve damage be a result. Most of my birds that made it started to recover within a day or so. After doing through it a few times, I have learned to begin antibiotic treatment immediately if I suggest body bites by a mammal as they frequently lead to life threatening infection and during warm periods fly strike.

 

[ahiru]

Welcome to BYC. The vet with hands can make the best call. Odds are if fox, the duck received multiple bites to the back and possibly neck. Nerve damage be a result. Most of my birds that made it started to recover within a day or so. After doing through it a few times, I have learned to begin antibiotic treatment immediately if I suggest body bites by a mammal as they frequently lead to life threatening infection and during warm periods fly strike.

 

[ahiru]

Thank you. I hope there's not a next time but if there is I'll apply antibiotic treatment quickly. It's winter and quite chilly so I guess that would lessen the chance of infection.

 

[centrarchid]

The antibiotic needs to be able to combat a systemic infection. Topical applications not likely to be effective in that. Either inject or introduce orally.

 

[TwoCrows]

I moved this thread to our Emergency section for more help.

 

[ahiru]

It's been nearly a week and I'm still trying to figure out my drake's condition. On the one hand he's eating and drinking better, at least at certain times, and rooting around in the grass for food, albeit to a limited extent. On the other hand, his leg doesn't seem better at all, and he can hardly move. Oddly enough, I find it disconcerting that he doesn't try to escape or attack me anymore, as if he has given up. I'm hoping one day he'll pop up and start hobbling around again. He was quite large so can probably get by on less food for quite a while. And warmer weather will help (we have nights ranging from 2 to 10 celsius and days up to 20).

 

[Fishkeeper]

If he doesn't seem to be getting better, it may be time to consider euthanasia. If he doesn't seem to want to move much, it might be because he's in a lot of pain.

 

[Birdinhand]

nerve damage takes time to heal and that's what it sounds like to me. I'd say if he is getting better, to stick with it. for an out standing story of miraculous recovery check this out: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rooster-rescued-from-a-coyote-using-manuka-honey.1202992/

 

[ahiru]

If he doesn't seem to be getting better, it may be time to consider euthanasia. If he doesn't seem to want to move much, it might be because he's in a lot of pain.

Thanks. My son started high school in Wisconsin last summer (we live in Japan) and is begging me to save him. So I'm going to extend this as long as possible, until I'm totally convinced the drake can't survive. He doesn't seem to be suffering; that makes me want to wait it out too.